MLB Player News

Profar (knee) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Profar started in each of the Padres' first 71 games of the season, but he'll hit the bench for the first time after he was forced out of Tuesday's 4-3 win in the eighth inning due to a sore left knee. Manager Mike Shildt disclosed after the contest that Profar has been battling patellar tendinitis in the knee for years, but the 31-year-old aggravated the injury on a swing during his eighth-inning at-bat. Though Shildt downplayed the knee issue, the skipper admitted that he was unsure if Profar -- who leads the National League with a .424 on-base percentage -- would require imaging on the knee, per Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Jose Azocar will cover left field Wednesday in place of Profar, whose status will presumably be updated following Thursday's team off day.

Wade (hamstring) said Wednesday that he's pushing hard for a return from the 10-day injured list for the Giants' matchup with the Cardinals on June 20 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

When he was placed on the IL on May 28 with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Wade was projected to miss four weeks, but the veteran first baseman took batting practice Tuesday and fielded grounders and started some light running Wednesday as he aims to beat his estimated return timeline by one week. Wade acknowledged that if he's able to return for MLB's June 20 Negro Leagues tribute game, he would likely be relegated to designated-hitter duties. The Giants will presumably continue to monitor Wade's progress as he ramps up over the next week before determining if a June 20 return is feasible. The 30-year-old hadn't been a premium source of counting stats prior to being deactivated due to the injury, but he was hitting an impressive .333 while getting on base at a .470 clip through his first 52 games of the season.

Estrada is dealing with an illness but believes he'll be available out of the bullpen Wednesday versus the Athletics, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Estrada went unused in Tuesday's 4-3 win because of the illness. The reliever said Wednesday that he's still a bit under the weather, but he thinks he's feeling well enough to give it a go, if needed. Estrada boasts a 43.2 percent strikeout rate across 18 appearances for the Padres this season.

Kuhnel signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Tuesday.

Kuhnel was assigned to Triple-A Nashville after signing with Milwaukee, and the affiliate wasted little time in putting him to work. He appeared out of the bullpen Tuesday in Nashville's 13-9 loss to Gwinnett, covering one inning and striking out two while allowing two earned runs on two hits and one walk. Prior to joining Milwaukee, Kuhnel spent time in the big leagues this season with Houston, giving up four earned runs over two innings in his lone relief appearance.

Conforto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Conforto's streak of five consecutive starts will come to an end Wednesday while the lefty-hitting outfielder heads to the bench in a day game after a night game with a left-hander (Framber Valdez) on the hill for Houston. Austin Slater will enter the lineup in Conforto's place in left field and will bat leadoff.

Brooks is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The lefty-hitting Brooks will hit the bench for the second day in a row, this time against a lefty (Framber Valdez) after sitting versus right-hander Ronel Blanco in Tuesday's 3-1 loss. Brooks and Wilmer Flores will continue to form a rough platoon at first base while LaMonte Wade (hamstring) is on the shelf, though Flores will still see some select starts against right-handed pitching.

The Dodgers are expected to option Vargas to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

He'll be giving up his spot on the active roster to Cavan Biggio, who was acquired via trade with the Blue Jays earlier Wednesday. Vargas had been up with the big club for nearly a month but didn't play much, starting just six of 22 games. He'll receive regular reps at Oklahoma City.

Chourio will start in left field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Chourio will stick in the lineup for the fifth game in a row, with three of his starts coming against right-handed pitching during that stretch. The rookie went 4-for-13 with a home run, a double and two walks over his previous four starts, and his recent surge at the plate could be enough for him to unseat the lefty-hitting Jake Bauers as a regular in the lineup versus right-handed pitching. Bauers is in the lineup Wednesday against Toronto righty Chris Bassitt, but he was on the bench for two of the Brewers' previous three matchups with right-handers.

The Nationals placed Gallo on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain.

Gallo exited Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Tigers due to the injury. The Nationals haven't revealed the grade of Gallo's hamstring strain, but the injury is clearly significant enough that he won't be available for at least the next 10 days. Trey Lipscomb was called up from Triple-A Rochester to replace Gallo on the 26-man active roster and will be an option at first base along with Joey Meneses.

The Nationals recalled Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

As expected, Washington placed Joey Gallo (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Lipscomb. Though he stole 10 bases over 121 plate appearances with the Nationals earlier this season, the 23-year-old slashed just .252/.331/.290 and has been even more unproductive at the Triple-A level (.576 OPS in 98 plate appearances). He could have to settle for a short-side platoon role while he's up with the Nationals, as manager Dave Martinez could first turn to Joey Meneses to replace Gallo as a regular in the lineup.